"It is one of those cases where the art of the reasoner should be used rather for the sifting of details than for the acquiring of fresh evidence.
"对这件案子，思维推理的艺术，应当用来仔细查明事实细节，而不是去寻找新的证据。
The tragedy has been so uncommon, so complete,
这件惨案极不平凡，如此费解，
and of such personal importance to so many people that we are suffering from a plethora of surmise, conjecture, and hypothesis.
并且与那么多人有切身利害关系，使我们颇费推测、猜想和假设。
The difficulty is to detach the framework of fact -- of absolute undeniable fact -- from the embellishments of theorists and reporters.
困难在于，需要把那些确凿的事实——无可争辩的事实与那些理论家、记者虚构粉饰之词区别开来。
Then, having established ourselves upon this sound basis,
我们的责任是立足于可靠的根据，
it is our duty to see what inferences may be drawn and what are the special points upon which the whole mystery turns.
得出结论，并确定在当前这件案子里哪一些问题是主要的。
On Tuesday evening I received telegrams from both Colonel Ross, the owner of the horse, and from Inspector Gregory,
星期二晚上，我接到马主人罗斯上校和警长格雷戈里两个人的电报，
who is looking after the case, inviting my cooperation."
格雷戈里请我与他合作侦破这件案子。"

"Tuesday evening!" I exclaimed. "And this is Thursday morning. Why didn't you go down yesterday?"
"星期二晚上！"我惊呼道，"今天已经是星期四早晨了。为什么你昨天不动身呢？"
"Because I made a blunder, my dear Watson -- which is, I am afraid, a more common occurrence than anyone would think who only knew me through your memoirs.
"我亲爱的华生，这是我的过错，恐怕我会发生很多错误，而并不象那些只是通过你的回忆录知道我的人所想象的那样。
The fact is that I could not believe it possible that the most remarkable horse in England could long remain concealed,
事实是，我并不相信这匹英国名驹会隐藏得这么久，
especially in so sparsely inhabited a place as the north of Dartmoor.
特别是在达特穆尔北部这样人烟稀少的地方。
From hour to hour yesterday I expected to hear that he had been found, and that his abductor was the murderer of John Straker.
昨天我时时刻刻指望着能听到找到马的消息，而那个拐马的人就是杀害约翰·斯特雷克的凶手。
When, however, another morning had come and I found that beyond the arrest of young Fitzroy Simpson nothing had been done,
哪知到了今天，我发现除了捉住年轻人菲茨罗伊·辛普森以外，没有任何进展。
I felt that it was time for me to take action.
我感到是该我行动的时候了。
Yet in some ways I feel that yesterday has not been wasted."
不过，我觉得昨天的时间也并没有白白浪费。"
"You have formed a theory, then?"
"那么说，你已经作出了分析判断。"
"At least I have got a grip of the essential facts of the case.
"至少我对这件案子的主要事实有了一些了解。
I shall enumerate them to you, for nothing clears up a case so much as stating it to another person,
现在我可以对你一一列举出来，我觉得，弄清一件案子的最好办法，就是能把它的情况对另一个人讲清楚，
and I can hardly expect your cooperation if I do not show you the position from which we start."
此外，如果我不告诉你我们现在掌握什么情况，我就很难指望得到你的帮助。"